Texas native James Washington comes home as Cowboys’ new WR: ‘Definitely a dream of mine’

The former Steeler grew up near Dallas and was a Cowboy in college, so his recent free-agency signing at The Star feels like a homecoming. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Fantasies do come true. James Washington just found out.

The 25-year-old wide receiver signed a one-year contract to play for the Cowboys on Monday, bringing to fruition something that the native Texan imagined many times while growing up less than three hours away from Dallas.

“This is like a small-town kid’s dream, to play for the Dallas Cowboys,” Washington told the team website. “I’m living it out, for sure.”

He’s a Cowboy now, but the four-year veteran literally wore a black hat for the first part of his pro career as a 2018 second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The rookie had to contend with Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster for targets. He turned in his best statistical year in 2019, with 44 receptions and 735 yards. But by 2020, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool had entered the mix. Last season, Washington got just two starts over 16 games (postseason included), logging only 26 catches, 322 yards, and three scores.

As in Pittsburgh, the Dallas offense has many mouths to feed- receivers, backs, and tight ends- and with a quarterback who likes to spread it around. Washington may find himself once again fighting for looks, but perhaps in a few new ways.

“I actually talked to Coach McCarthy,” he revealed. “We’re going to play everywhere, and we’re going to do whatever I need to do to help this team get down the field and get in the end zone.”

And he’ll be doing it in a comfortable setting close to home.

He played multiple high school championship games in AT&T Stadium and admits that wearing the star there crossed his mind.

“It was definitely a dream of mine, especially that first time we played there,” Washington said. “I was like, ‘Man, I could get used to this.'”

But Washington was a Cowboy even before he got to the NFL, playing his college ball at Oklahoma State, earning All-American honors and the Fred Biletnikoff Award as a senior. And it was another college-Cowboy-turned-pro-Cowboy who first predicted his coming to Dallas in a Twitter post last week.

“He’s been a big brother from afar, for sure, ” Washington said of Dez Bryant. “I remember, at Oklahoma State, watching all of his film, just trying to take pieces of his game and add them to mine. Definitely want to give him a shout-out for going to bat for me and helping me get this opportunity.”

Washington coincidentally also has a bit of history with the man who took over Bryant’s No. 88 jersey in Dallas.

Washington and Lamb met on the field once in college, in 2017. Washington, a senior, shined that day, snaring seven balls for 128 yards and a touchdown to Lamb’s three catches and 51 yards. But it was the true freshman’s Sooners who beat Washington’s Cowboys in a Bedlam Game that lived up to its nickname, with a 62-52 final.

Now the two are wearing the same uniform. Lamb is the undisputed leader of the Dallas WR room, and Washington will be looking to help fill the void left by Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson’s departures. And with Michael Gallup rehabbing a torn ACL, Washington may get extra opportunities early alongside his former collegiate rival.

“The mindset I came into this with is just working my butt off, earning my spot,” the free agent explained. “I don’t want to come in and take anything. I want to earn it and earn these guys’ respect around here and do what I can to help this team win.”

That may sound strange coming from someone who fans most closely identify with wearing the black and yellow of the hated Steelers. After all, even his native Stamford, Texas turned into a Terrible Towel-waving contingent when their hometown hero was drafted by Pittsburgh.

But Washington promises that the fulfillment of his childhood dream has returned them to the America’s Team fold.

“I guarantee you, they’re all back on with the Cowboys now.”

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